John Kane Becomes First Democrat to Represent 9th State Senate District Since 1873

The last Democrat to represent the state senate district was William M. Randall, who served from 1865 to 1873. Voters in the district have elected Republicans in every election since then.

John Kane will be the first Democrat to represent the 9th state Senate District in nearly 150 years.

Kane seized the seat, which represents parts of Delaware and Chester counties, when he garnered 78,550 votes to Republican incumbent Tom Killion’s 72,923 votes, as of noon on Monday. The two counties still have a total of 459 mail-in ballots and 13,000 provisional ballots to be counted between them, but Killion conceded the race on Friday afternoon. 

“It is becoming increasingly clear that once all of the votes are counted in this election, we will likely increase our current lead,” Kane said in a Facebook post on Friday afternoon. “However, we do want to ensure that each voter who cast a ballot in this election gets to have their vote counted and their voice heard.”

Kane said he was honored to represent the residents of the 9th District in Harrisburg.

“This campaign was always about working people and the need to have a voice at the table. I’m proud to be the champion of working families and I will never stop fighting on their behalf,” Kane said.

“Now, it’s time to do the real work. We need quality, affordable health care for all. We must invest in our public schools and the future of our children. And it’s our responsibility as elected officials to get to work on this global pandemic.”

Kane, a master plumber and business manager of Plumbers Union Local 690, is a recent cancer survivor. He made health care a central part of his campaign.

Kane thanked Killion for his years of public service and “a spirited campaign of ideas.”

Killion first was elected to represent the 9th state Senate District in a special election in 2016. He was re-elected in the general election later that year.

Before Killion was a state senator, he served three terms in the state House of Representatives.

The last Democrat to represent the state senate district was William M. Randall, who served from 1865 to 1873. Voters in the district have elected Republicans in every election since then.